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llrrh JOSEPH KLEPPINGER, OF OHERRYVILLE, PA., ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO STEPHEN NEVVHART AND CHAS. KUNTZ, OF SAME PLACE.

SHAFT-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,600, dated March 10, 1885.

Application filed May 21, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Josnrrr H. KLEPPIN- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oherryville, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft- Supporters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to shaft-supporters, and is designed to obviate the necessity of holding up the shafts while getting the horse in position,and also propping up with a stick when the vehicle is not in use.

In the annexed drawings is illustrated the device, and Figure 1 represents a plan view of a portion of a vehicle axle and shaft with the device attached; Fig. 2, a side View of the same, and Fig. 3 a bottom view of the device.

A represents an axle of ordinary construc tion, to which the shaft B is connected by an ordinary thill-conpling, O.

Secured to one side of the coupling by the coupling-bolt is an L-shaped plate, 1), its shorter end resting against the axle, and provided above and below with a lug, E, engaging with the thill-iron, as shown, which arrangement prevents the plate turning on the retaining-bolt. The shaft-iron is slightly recessed, as shown at F, and against the edge of the said recess rests one side of a plate, G, which projects beyond the shaft and is bent at right angles, so as to be parallel with the side of the said shaft. The end is slightly beveled to give it some spring, as shown at H. The part of the plate G resting on the shaftiron is slotted, as shown at I, and is secured to the shaft by a bolt, K.

It will be readily seen that when the plate G is properly adjusted and the shaft turned upward the free end of the said plate will engage with and slide against the long arm of the L-shaped plate, and the shaft will be held in position by the friction. The recess in the shaftiron prevents the plate G from turning, and the slot allows the said plate to be sufficiently adjusted to take up all wear. Extra bolt-holes arerenderedunnecessary,as the bolt holding the shaft to the iron passes through and holds the plate thereon and the coupling holds the L-plate secure.

Having described the device, what I claim 1. A shaft-fastener consisting of aplate se cured to the thill-coupling and projecting upn ward therefrom, and a right-angle plate having one end slightly beveled and. the other slotted and secured to the shaft by a bolt, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A shaftfastener consisting of an upwardly-projecting plate secured to the thillcoupling, a right-angle plate having one end slightly beveled and the other slotted and secured to the shaft by a bolt, and a recessed shaft-iron, into which recess the right-angle plate sets, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the L-shaped plate secured to the coupling by the coupling-bolt, the shorter end of the plate having lugs which rest above and below on thethill-coupling, with a right-angled plate beveled on one end and slotted at the other, and a shaft-iron recessed to receive the said plate, a bolt holding the shaft-iron and the plate to the shaft, and all the parts arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. KLEPPINGER.

Witnesses:

A. W. MUNMEY, JOHN M. Bowen. 

